Oyo trains youths in skills

The Oyo State government has trained 46 youths in various skills, including branding and customising, barbing and hairdressing.

The beneficiaries, who were drawn from the 33 local government areas of the state, received their work equipment at the state secretariat, Ibadan.

The youths were trained and empowered by the state Agency for Youths Development.

Presenting the tools to them, the chairman of the agency, Mr Olugbenga Olayemi said it will would bring many more youths on board this year.

He said that the project, which was a pilot scheme, was initiated after findings showed that only about five per cent of beneficiaries of similar projects in the past are still in business.

He explained that the agency decided to do something unique by picking willing youths for a two-week intensive training programme undertaken by experts in the three fields.

Olayemi said: “They were camped at the IYY Training Village at Egbeda, Ibadan where they were fed and trained by experts,” he said.

After the training, the beneficiaries were placed on a three-month industrial attachment with thriving practitioners for practical knowledge. During the period, the agency sought shops and paid one year rent for each of the participants. It also got the shops ready for business by painting and decorating them.

“On completion, we bought all the equipment needed for each trade to enable them run their businesses without hindrance and to run it profitably. For instance, each of those who trained in branding and customising received a complete set of computer, printer, UPS, scanner, iron, standing fan, executive office chair, two plastic chairs, office table, pressing table, carpet, 2.5 Elepaq generator and a flex sign-post.. This is in addition to the shop and offices already rented for them.”

Olayemi put the cost of empowering each beneficiary at N250,000. He thanked Governor Abiola Ajimobi for supporting the project and disclosed that the number of beneficiaries would increase largely this year.

But he pointed out that they would not be allowed to sell the equipment due to the monitoring mechanism put in place by the agency.

One of the beneficiaries who spoke with The Nation, Miss Oluremi Kolawwole, a hairdresser, praised the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the gesture.

According to her, she had learnt hairdressing and was looking for funds to set up when the opportunity came. She lauded the training and industrial attachment, saying it enriched her knowledge of hairdressing.

“I can handle any type of hair-style now. I can do Ghana weaving, fixing, rolling and setting as well as local weaving,” she said.